"Jack Vance - The Languages of Pao" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

they received."
"In addition," Palafox pointed out, "the crime has been followed by an
appropriate penalty, with no lack of equilibrium to disturb the public."
"Justice has been done," said Bustamonte stiffly.
Palafox nodded. "The function of justice, after all, is to dissuade any
 Palafox stroked his lean chin. The question must be considered in its
proper perspective."
"I fail to understand you."
"We must ask ourselves, did Beran actually kill the Panarch?"
Protruding his lips, bulging his eyes, Bustamonte contrived to become a
grotesque hybrid of ape and frog. "Undoubtedly!"
"Why should he do so?"
Bustamonte shrugged. "Aiello had no love for Beran. It is doubtful if the
child were actually fathered by Aiello."
"Indeed?" mused Lord Palafox. "And who might be the father?"
Bustamonte shrugged once more. "The Divine Petraia was not
altogether fastidious in her indiscretions, but we will never know the truth,
since a year ago Aiello ordained her subaqueation. Beran was grief-
stricken, and here might be the source of the crime."
"Surely you do not take me for a fool?" Palafox asked, smiling a
peculiar fixed smile.
Bustamonte looked at him in startlement. "Eh? What's this?"
"The execution of this deed was precise. The child appeared to be acting
under hypnotic compulsion. His hand was guided by another brain."
"You feel so?" Bustamonte frowned. "Who might such 'another' be?"
"Why not the Ayudor-Senior?"
Bustamonte halted in his pacing, then laughed shortly. "This is fantasy
indeed! What of yourself?"
"I gain nothing from Aiello's death," said Palafox. "He asked me here to
a specific purpose. Now he is dead, and your own policy faces a different
direction. There is no further need for me."
Bustamonte held up his hand. "Not so fast. Today is not yesterday. The
Mercantil, as you suggest, may prove hard to deal with. Perhaps you will
serve me as you might have served Aiello."
Palafox rose to his feet. The sun was settling past the far horizon into
remedies are worse than the ailment.
"I act as I think necessary," snapped Bustamonte.
"I will relieve you of the child," said Palafox. "He may return with me to
Breakness."
Bustamonte inspected Palafox with simulated surprise. "What will you
do with young Beran? The idea is ridiculous. I am prepared to offer you a
draft of females to augment your prestige, but now I give orders in regard
to Beran."
Palafox looked away into the dusk, smiling. "You fear that Beran will
become a weapon against you. You want no possible challenge."
"It would be banal to deny it."
Palafox stared into the sky. "You need not fear him. He would
remember nothing."
"What is your interest in this child?" demanded Bustamonte.
"Consider it a whim."